Data transmission method, terminal device, and network device

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of this application provide a data transmission method, a terminal device and a network device, to reduce complexity of blindly detecting a PDCCH by the terminal device. The method includes: receiving by a terminal device, an SFI sent by a network device; determining, by the terminal device according to the SFI, at least one of a slot format in one time unit and a time length suitable for the slot format; and detecting, by the terminal device, a PDCCH according to the slot format corresponding to the one of the one or more slot format indices indicated by the SFI.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of PCT Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/CN2017/104435, entitled “DATA TRANSMISSION METHOD, TERMINALDEVICE, AND NETWORK DEVICE” filed on Sep. 29, 2017, which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to the communications field, and morespecifically, to a data transmission method, a terminal device, and anetwork device.

RELATED ART

In a new radio (NR) system, a slot (slot) or a symbol is used as ascheduling unit, and each slot includes X symbols, for example, X=14. Inone slot, there may be a downlink (DL) symbol, an uplink (UL) symbol, areserved (reserved) symbol and an unknown (unknown) symbol. The reservedsymbol is not used for uplink or downlink transmission, and the unknownsymbol can be changed into the uplink or the downlink symbol throughdynamic signaling and used for uplink or downlink transmission. Aspecific slot format can be indicated by using a slot format indicator(SFI). For example, a base station can send the SFI in a group commonphysical downlink control channel (group common PDCCH), and notify aterminal device of the used slot format.

The NR system can support a multi-slot (multi-slot) and a single slotSFI identification manner. The single slot SFI identifier can indicate aslot format of one slot, and the multi-slot SFI identifier may be usedto indicate a slot format of a plurality of slots. Therefore, for themulti-slot and the single slot SFI identification manner, differentquantities of bits are required, and complexity of blindly detecting thePDCCH by the terminal device is increased in a certain degree.

Therefore, how to perform SFI indication to reduce the complexity of theblind detection by the terminal device is a problem needed to beurgently resolved.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of this application provide a data transmission method, aterminal device and a network device, to reduce complexity of blindlydetecting a PDCCH by the terminal device.

According to a first aspect a data transmission method is provided. Themethod includes:

receiving, by a terminal device, an SFI sent by a network device;

determining, by the terminal device according to the SFI, at least oneof a slot format in one time unit and a time length suitable for theslot format; and

detecting, by the terminal device, a PDCCH according to the slot formatcorresponding to the one of the one or more slot format indicesindicated by the SFI.

Therefore, the SFI in this embodiment of this application is differentfrom an existing SFI. The SFI can be used to not only indicate a slotformat in one time unit, but also indicate a time length suitable forthe slot format. In this way, the slot format can be used in severaltime units following a time unit (which can be a current time unit, orcan be a time unit after the current time unit), and it is not necessaryto send the SFI in the next several time units, so that signalingoverheads can be reduced, and complexity of blindly detecting a PDCCH bythe terminal device can also be reduced.

Optionally, in the embodiments of this application, the time unit may beone or more slots, or may be one or more transmission time intervals(TTI).

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the time unit is one slot.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the SFI is used to indicate number information of downlinksymbols and/or number information of uplink symbols included in oneslot, and the determining, by the terminal device according to the SFI,at least one of a slot format in one time unit and a time lengthsuitable for the slot format includes:

determining, by the terminal device, M symbols starting from the firstsymbol in one slot as a time domain location used for downlinktransmission, where M is the number of downlink symbols, and M is aninteger greater than or equal to 0: and/or

determining, by the terminal device, last N symbols in one slot as atime domain location used for uplink transmission, where N is the numberof uplink symbols, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

Therefore, according to the identification method for the SFI in theembodiments of this application, it is not necessary to indicate a stateof each symbol in one slot. Compared with a manner in which the state ofeach symbol in one slot is indicated, signaling overheads can bereduced.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the detecting, by the terminal device, a PDCCH according to theslot format corresponding to the one of the one or more slot formatindices indicated by the SFI includes:

detecting, by the terminal device, the PDCCH in the M symbols startingfrom the first symbol.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the SFI is used to indicate a slot format index, and thedetermining, by the terminal device according to the SFI, at least oneof a slot format in one time unit and a time length suitable for theslot format includes:

determining, by the terminal device, a slot format in one slot accordingto the slot format index and a first corresponding relationship, wherethe first corresponding relationship is a corresponding relationshipbetween the slot format index and the slot format.

Therefore, according to the SFI identification method in the embodimentsof this application, it is not necessary to indicate a state of eachsymbol in one slot. Compared with a manner in which the state of eachsymbol in one slot is indicated, signaling overheads can be reduced.

Optionally, the first corresponding relationship may be preconfiguredfor the terminal device by the network device. For example, the networkdevice may preconfigure the first corresponding relationship for theterminal device through semi-static signaling, or the firstcorresponding relationship may alternatively be preset in the terminaldevice.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the SFI includes number information of slots suitable for theslot format.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the determining, by the terminal device according to the SFI, atleast one of a slot format in one time unit and a time length suitablefor the slot format includes:

determining, by the terminal device, the number of slots suitable forthe slot format according to a scrambling manner used for a downlinkcontrol message (DCI) that is used for carrying the SFI, and a secondcorresponding relationship, where the second corresponding relationshipis a corresponding relationship between the scrambling manner used forthe DCI that is used for carrying the SFI and the number of slotssuitable for the slot format.

Optionally, the second corresponding relationship may be preconfiguredfor the terminal device by the network device. For example, the networkdevice may preconfigure the second corresponding relationship for theterminal device through semi-static signaling, or the secondcorresponding relationship may alternatively be preset in the terminaldevice. This is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the scrambling manner used for the DCI includes a mask and/or aradio network temporary identifier (RNTI) used for scrambling the DCI.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the detecting, by the terminal device, a PDCCH according to theslot format corresponding to the one of the one or more slot formatindices indicated by the SFI includes:

detecting, by the terminal device, the PDCCH according to the slotformat in K slots starting from a current slot or starting from an Lthslot after the current slot, where K is the number of slots suitable forthe slot format, L is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and K is aninteger greater than or equal to 1.

Therefore, the number of slots suitable for the slot format is indicatedby using the SFI. In this way, it is not necessary to repeatedly sendthe SFI in several slots of the number of slots suitable for the slotformat, so that signaling overheads can be reduced, and complexity ofblindly detecting a PDCCH by the terminal device can also be reduced.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the time unit is a transmission period used for transmitting theDCI carrying the SFI, and the transmission period includes a pluralityof slots.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the SFI is used to indicate a slot format corresponding to eachslot in one transmission period.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the SFI includes number information of downlink symbols and/ornumber information of uplink symbols included in one slot, and thedetermining, by the terminal device according to the SFI, at least oneof a slot format in one time unit and a time length suitable for theslot format includes:

determining, by the terminal device, M symbols starting from the firstsymbol in each slot as a time domain location used for downlinktransmission in the slot, where M is the number of downlink symbols inthe slot, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 0; and/or

determining, by the terminal device, last N symbols in each slot as atime domain location used for uplink transmission in the slot, where Mis the number of uplink symbols in the slot, and N is an integer greaterthan or equal to 0.

With reference to a first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the SFI includes a slot format index of each slot in onetransmission period, the slot format index has a third correspondingrelationship with the slot format, and the determining, by the terminaldevice according to the SFI, at least one of a slot format in one timeunit and a time length suitable for the slot format includes:

determining, by the terminal device, the slot format in each slotaccording to the slot format index of the slot, and the thirdcorresponding relationship.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the SFI indicates the slot format corresponding to each slot inone transmission period by means of a bitmap.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the detecting, by the terminal device, a PDCCH according to theslot format corresponding to the one of the one or more slot formatindices indicated by the SFI includes:

detecting, by the terminal device, the PDCCH in each transmission periodaccording to the slot format corresponding to each slot in thetransmission period.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the firstaspect, the method further includes:

receiving, by the terminal device, configuration information sent by thenetwork device, where the configuration information is used to configurethe transmission period of the DCI used for carrying the SFI.

According to a second aspect, a data transmission method is provided.The method includes:

generating, by a network device, an SFI, where the SFI is used toindicate at least one of a slot format in one time unit and a timelength suitable for the slot format:

sending, by the network device, the SFI to the terminal device.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of thesecond aspect, the time unit is a slot.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of thesecond aspect, the SFI is used to indicate number information ofdownlink symbols and/or number information of uplink symbols included inone slot.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of thesecond aspect, the SFI is used to indicate a slot format index, and theslot format index and the slot format index has a first correspondingrelationship with the slot format.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of thesecond aspect, the SFI includes number information of slots suitable forthe slot format.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of thesecond aspect, a scrambling manner used for a DCI that is used forcarrying the SFI has a second corresponding relationship with the numberof slots suitable for the slot format.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of thesecond aspect, the scrambling manner used for the DCI includes a maskand/or an RNTI used for scrambling the DCI.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of thesecond aspect, the time unit is a transmission period used fortransmitting the DCI carrying the SFI, and the transmission periodincludes a plurality of slots.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of thesecond aspect, the SFI is used to indicate a slot format correspondingto each slot in one transmission period.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of thesecond aspect, the SFI includes number information of downlink symbolsand/or number information of uplink symbols included in one slot.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of thesecond aspect, the SFI includes a slot format index of each slot in onetransmission period, and the slot format index has a third correspondingrelationship with the slot format.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of thesecond aspect, the SFI indicates the slot format corresponding to eachslot in one transmission period by means of a bitmap.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of thesecond aspect, the method further includes:

sending, by the network device, configuration information to theterminal device where the configuration information is used toconfigure, for the terminal device, the transmission period of the DCIused for carrying the SFI.

According to a third aspect, a terminal device is provided. The terminaldevice is configured to perform the method according to any one of thefirst aspect or the possible implementations of the first aspect.Specifically, the terminal device includes units configured to performthe method according to any one of the first aspect or the possibleimplementations of the first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect, a network device is provided. The networkdevice is configured to perform the method according to any one of thesecond aspect or the possible implementations of the second aspect.Specifically, the terminal device includes units configured to performthe method according to any one of the second aspect or the possibleimplementations of the second aspect.

According to a fifth aspect, a terminal device is provided. The terminaldevice includes: a memory, a processor, an input interface and an outputinterface. The memory, the processor, the input interface, and theoutput interface are connected by a bus system. The memory is configuredto store an instruction, and the processor is configured to perform theinstruction stored in the memory, to perform the method according to anyone of the first aspect or the possible implementations of the firstaspect.

According to a sixth aspect, a network device is provided. The networkdevice includes: a memory, a processor, an input interface, and anoutput interface. The memory, the processor, the input interface, andthe output interface are connected by a bus system. The memory isconfigured to store an instruction, and the processor is configured toperform the instruction stored in the memory, to perform the methodaccording to any one of the second aspect or the possibleimplementations of the second aspect.

According to a seventh aspect, a computer storage medium is provided.The computer storage medium is configured to store a computer softwareinstruction that is used to perform the method according to any one ofthe first aspect or the possible implementations of the first aspect,and the computer software instruction includes a program designed toperform the foregoing aspect.

According to an eighth aspect, a computer storage medium is provided.The computer storage medium is used to store a computer softwareinstruction that is used to perform the method according to any one ofthe second aspect or the possible implementations of the second aspect,and the computer software instruction includes a program designed toperform the foregoing aspect.

According to a ninth aspect, a computer program product including aninstruction is provided, and when the product is run on a computer, thecomputer is enabled to perform the method according to any one of thefirst aspect or the optional implementations of the first aspect.

According to a tenth aspect, a computer program product including aninstruction is provided, and when the product is run on a computer, thecomputer is enabled to perform the method according to any one of thesecond aspect or the optional implementations of the second aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communications system according to anembodiment of this application.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a slot-based data transmission mannerand a non-slot-based data transmission manner.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a multi-slot and a single slot SFIidentification manner.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a data transmission method accordingto an embodiment of this application.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a data transmission method accordingto another embodiment of this application.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device according to anembodiment of this application:

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a network device according to anembodiment of this application;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device according toanother embodiment of this application; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a network device according toanother embodiment of this application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solutions in embodiments of this application are describedbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments ofthis application.

The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application may beapplied to various communications systems, for example: a Global Systemfor Mobile Communications (GSM) system, a Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA) system, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system,a general packet radio service (GPRS), a Long Term Evolution (LTE)system, an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, an LTE timedivision duplex (TDD), a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS), a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)communications system, or a future 5G system.

FIG. 1 shows a wireless communications system 100 applied to anembodiment of this application. The wireless communications system 100may include a network device 110. The network device 100 may be a devicecommunicating with a terminal device. The network device 100 can providecommunication coverage for a particular geographical area, and cancommunicate with a terminal device (for example, UE) in the coverage.Optionally, the network device 100 may be a base transceiver station(BTS) in a GSM system or a CDMA system, a NodeB (NB) in a WCDMA system,an evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, or a wirelesscontroller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or the network devicemay be a relay station, an access point, an in-vehicle device, awearable device, or a network side device in a future 5G network or anetwork device in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN).

The wireless communications system 100 may further include at least oneterminal device 120 in the coverage of the network device 110. Theterminal device 120 may be movable or fixed. Optionally, the terminaldevice 120 may be an access device, user equipment (User Equipment, UE),a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobileconsole, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a userterminal, a terminal, a wireless communications device, a user agent, auser apparatus, or the like. The access terminal may be a cellularphone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, awireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), ahandheld device having a wireless communication function, a computingdevice, another processing device connected to a wireless modem, anin-vehicle device, a wearable device, or a terminal device in a future5G network or a terminal device in a future evolved PLMN.

Optionally, the 5G system or network may also be referred to as a newradio (NR) system or network.

FIG. 1 shows one network device and two terminal devices as an example.Optionally, the wireless communications system 100 may include aplurality of network devices and another number of terminal devices maybe included in coverage of each network device. This is not limited inthis embodiment of this application.

Optionally, the wireless communications system 100 may further includeother network entities such as a network controller and a mobilitymanagement entity. This is not limited in this embodiment of thisapplication.

In a slot in an NR system, a slot-based (slot-based) data transmissionmanner and a non-slot-based (non-slot-based) data transmission mannermay be supported. As shown in FIG. 2, a difference between the two datatransmission manners is: in the slot-based data transmission manner, aDCI used for scheduling data is located in the first three symbols ofthe slot, and the slot is used as a scheduling unit for scheduling;while in the non-slot-based data transmission manner, a DCI used forscheduling data may be located at any location of the slot, and one ormore symbols is used as a unit for scheduling. For example, two, four,or seven symbols are used as the scheduling unit.

The NR system supports a multi-slot and a single slot SFI identificationmanner. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the two identification manners.

In one slot, each symbol has many states. For example, a symbol may be aDL symbol, a UL symbol, or an unknown symbol. If two bits are used torepresent a state of each symbol, 14 symbols in one slot need to berepresented by using 28 bits. For the single slot SFI identificationmanner as shown in FIG. 3, an SFI received in Slot 1 may be used toindicate a slot format of Slot 1, and the SFI needs 28 bits. For themulti-slot SFI identification manner as shown in FIG. 3, an SFI receivedin Slot 1 may be used to indicate a slot format of Slot 1 to Slot 4, andthen the SFI needs 28×4 bits to indicate slot formats of the four slots.Therefore, a large number of bits need to be occupied and differentquantities of bits are required in the two indication manners, so thatcomplexity of blindly detecting a PDCCH by the terminal device isincreased in a certain degree.

In view of this, the embodiments of this application provide a datatransmission method, by which SFI indication overheads can be reduced,and the complexity of blindly detecting the PDCCH by the terminal devicecan also be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a data transmission method accordingto an embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 4, the method 400can include:

S410. A terminal device receives an SFI sent by a network device.

S420. The terminal device determines, according to the SFI, at least oneof a slot format in one time unit and a time length suitable for theslot format.

S430. The terminal device detects a PDCCH according to the slot formatcorresponding to the one of the one or more slot format indicesindicated by the SFI.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment of this application, thetime unit may be one or more slots, or may be one or more TTIs. This isnot limited in this embodiment of this application.

Specifically, the terminal device may determine a slot format in onetime unit according to the SFI, and may further determine a time lengthsuitable for the slot format in the time unit. For example, the slotformat in the time unit may be suitable for one or more time units.Optionally, if the time unit is one slot, the time length suitable forthe slot format may be one or more slots. That is, in the one or moreslots, the terminal device can detect a PDCCH according to the slotformat. Optionally, the time unit may alternatively be a transmissionperiod (where the transmission period may include a plurality of slots),so that the SFI can be used to indicate a slot format of each slot inthe transmission period. In this case, the time length suitable for theslot format indicated by the SFI may be one or more transmissionperiods.

In other words, if a slot format in a time span is periodic, the slotformat in a time unit and a time length suitable for the slot format inthe time unit can be used for representation. For example, a slot formatof one slot may be suitable for K (where K is an integer greater than orequal to 1) slots. That is, the slot format is periodic in the K slots,so that all the K slots can use the slot format of the slot.Alternatively, a slot format of N (where N is an integer greater than 1)slots may be suitable for N×M slots, where M is a positive integer, andevery N slots in the N×M slots can use the slot format of the N slots.

Therefore, the SFI in this embodiment of this application is differentfrom an existing SFI. The SFI can be used to not only indicate a slotformat in one time unit, but also indicate a time length suitable forthe slot format. In this way, the slot format can be used in severaltime units following a time unit (which can be a current time unit, orcan be a time unit after the current time unit), and it is not necessaryto send the SFI in the next several time units, so that signalingoverheads can be reduced, and the complexity of blindly detecting thePDCCH by the terminal device can also be reduced.

With reference to specific embodiments, the SFI identification manner inthe embodiments of this application will be described in detail below.It should be noted that, the following examples are intended to help aperson skilled in the art to better understand the embodiments of thisapplication, but not to limit the scope of the embodiments of thisapplication. A person skilled in the art can obviously make variousequivalent modifications or variations according to the followingexamples, and such modifications or variations may fall within the rangeof the embodiments of this application.

Embodiment 1

In this embodiment, the SFI is used to indicate number information ofdownlink symbols and/or number information of uplink symbols included inone slot. The number of downlink symbols included in one slot is markedas M, and the number of uplink symbols included in one slot is marked asN. M and N are both integers, 0≤M≤X, 0≤N≤X, 0≤M+N≤X, and X is a totalnumber of symbols in one slot, for example, X=14. In this way, a numberof bits required for representing the number of downlink symbols and thenumber of uplink symbols is eight bits at most. Therefore, according tothe SFI identification method in this embodiment of this application, itis not necessary to indicate a state of each symbol in one slot.Compared with a manner in the prior art in which the state of eachsymbol in one slot is indicated (where 28 bits may be used forindication), signaling overheads can be reduced.

Optionally, the slot includes reserved symbols, and the reserved symbolsare Y symbols starting from the first symbol of the slot, so that thenumber of DL symbols included in this slot and indicated by the SFI isM. and M symbols starting from the (Y+1)th symbol are the DL symbols.The number of UL symbols included in the slot and indicated by the SFIis N, and last N symbols are the UL symbols.

Optionally, the slot includes reserved symbols, and the reserved symbolsare last Y symbols of the slot, so that the number of DL symbolsincluded in the slot and indicated by the SFI is M, and M symbolsstarting from the first symbol are the DL symbols. The number of ULsymbols included in the slot and indicated by the SFI is N, and Nsymbols ending at the (Y+1)th last symbol are the UL symbols.

Optionally, the SFI can indicate only the number of downlink symbols. Inthis way, the terminal device can determine M symbols following thefirst symbol as the DL symbols. Then, the terminal device can detect thePDCCH in the DL symbols. Optionally, when data needs to be transmitted,the terminal device can perform downlink transmission in the DL symbolsscheduled by the PDCCH, or perform uplink transmission in the UL symbolsscheduled by the PDCCH.

Optionally, the SFI can indicate the number of downlink symbols and thenumber of uplink symbols. In this way, the terminal device can determineM symbols following the first symbol as the DL symbols, and determinelast N symbols as the UL symbols. Then, the terminal device can detectthe PDCCH in the DL symbols. Optionally, when data needs to betransmitted, the terminal device can perform uplink transmission in theUL symbols.

In other words, the terminal device can obtain, according to the numberinformation of downlink symbols and/or the number information of uplinksymbols in one slot, a time domain location used for downlinktransmission and a time domain location used for uplink transmission inone slot. Further, S430 may include:

detecting, by the terminal device, the PDCCH in the M symbols startingfrom the first symbol.

That is, the terminal device detects the PDCCH in the time domainlocation used for downlink transmission (namely, the DL symbols).Optionally, when data is to be transmitted, the terminal device canalternatively perform uplink transmission in the time domain locationused for uplink transmission (namely, the UL symbols).

Embodiment 2

In this embodiment, the SFI is used to indicate a slot format index. Forexample, one time unit is one slot. There are N types of slot formats inone slot, and each slot format index can correspond to one slot format.The terminal device can learn a target slot format according to the slotformat index. A number of bits required for indicating the slot formatindex is related to a total number of the slot formats. For example, foreight types of slot formats, the number of bits required by the slotformat index may be 3, or for ten types of slot formats, the number ofbits required by the slot format index may be 4. Therefore, according tothe SFI identification method in this embodiment of this application, itis not necessary to indicate a state of each symbol in one slot.Compared with a manner in which the state of each symbol in one slot isindicated (where 28 bits may be used for indication), signalingoverheads can be reduced.

In a specific embodiment, S420 may include:

determining, by the terminal device, a slot format in one slot accordingto the slot format index and a first corresponding relationship, wherethe first corresponding relationship is a corresponding relationshipbetween the slot format index and the slot format.

In other words, the slot format index can have a first correspondingrelationship with the slot format. The first corresponding relationshipmay be in the form of a table or in the form of a tree, and this is notlimited in this embodiment of this application. After the terminaldevice receives the SFI, the terminal device may search for the firstcorresponding relationship according to the slot format index indicatedby the SFI, and obtain the slot format corresponding to the slot formatindex. Then, the terminal device can blindly detect the PDCCH accordingto the slot format.

Optionally, the first corresponding relationship may be preconfiguredfor the terminal device by the network device. For example, the networkdevice may preconfigure the first corresponding relationship for theterminal device through semi-static signaling, or the firstcorresponding relationship may alternatively be preset in the terminaldevice. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

By way of example and not limitation, the first correspondingrelationship may be shown as Table 1:

TABLE 1 SFI Number of DL Number of unknown Number of UL index symbolssymbols symbols 0 12 1  1 1 11 1  2 2 10 1  3 3 10 3  1 4  9 3  2 5  1 112 6  2 1 11 7  3 1 10

For example, if the slot format index indicated by the SFI is 4, theterminal device can determine, according to Table 1, that in the slotformat corresponding to the slot format index, namely, 4, the number ofDL symbols is 9, a number of unknown symbols is 3, and the number of ULsymbols is 2. Further, the terminal device can determine that ninesymbols starting from the first symbol (that is, Symbol 0 to Symbol 8)are the DL symbols, three symbols starting from Symbol 9 (that is,Symbol 9 to Symbol 11) are the unknown symbols, and Symbol 12 and Symbol13 are the UL symbols. In this way, the terminal device can detect thePDCCH in Symbol 0 to Symbol 8. When data needs to be transmitted, theterminal device can alternatively perform uplink transmission in Symbol12 and Symbol 13.

After the terminal device determines the slot format in one slotaccording to Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the terminal device canfurther perform data transmission in a slot-based data transmissionmanner or a non-slot-based data transmission manner.

It should be understood that, the terminal device can perform multi-slotor single slot indication in the identification manner described inEmbodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 to. For example, the SFI may include oneslot format index, to indicate a slot format in one slot, or may includea slot format of a plurality of slots, to indicate the slot format inthe plurality of slot; or the SFI may include the number information ofdownlink symbols and/or uplink symbols included in one slot, or the SFImay include number information of downlink symbols and/or uplink symbolsincluded in each slot in a plurality of slots.

With reference to Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the foregoingintroduces how the SFI indicates a slot format. With reference toEmbodiment 3 and Embodiment 4, the following will introduce how theterminal device indicates a time length suitable for the slot format.

It should be understood that, in Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 4, the SFIcan be used to indicate the slot format in one slot. For example, themanner described in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 can be used to indicatethe slot format in one slot, or the existing identification manner canbe used to indicate the slot format in one slot. This is not limited inthis embodiment of this application.

Embodiment 3

In this embodiment, the SFI may include number information of slotssuitable for the slot format, that is, the SFI may further be used toindicate the number of slots suitable for the slot format. For example,the SFI may include a slot number indication domain. For example, theslot number indication domain may be three bits. The SFI may indicatethat the number of slots suitable for the slot format may be 8 at most.In this way, in the number of slots suitable for the slot format, it isnot necessary to repeatedly send the SFI, so that signaling overheadscan be reduced, and complexity of blindly detecting a PDCCH by theterminal device can also be reduced.

In other words, the terminal device can determine, according toEmbodiment 1 and Embodiment 3, or Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3, or aslot format identification manner in the prior art and Embodiment 3, aslot format in one slot and a number of slots suitable for the slotformat. In this way, the SFI includes at least two indication domains.One indication domain is used to indicate a slot format in one slot. Theslot format may be indicated in the manner described in Embodiment 1 orEmbodiment 2, or may be indicated in the existing identification manner.The indication domain is suitable for the slot-based data transmissionmanner and the non-slot-based data transmission manner. The otherindication domain is used to indicate a number of slots suitable for theslot format, that is, the SFI in this embodiment of this application canalso be suitable for the multi-slot indication and the single slotindication.

Embodiment 4

In this embodiment, a scrambling manner used for a DCI that is used forcarrying the SFI may be used to indirectly indicate the number of slotssuitable for the slot format.

In a specific embodiment, S420 may include:

determining, by the terminal device, the number of slots suitable forthe slot format according to a scrambling manner used for a DCI that isused for carrying the SFI, and a second corresponding relationship,where the second corresponding relationship is a correspondingrelationship between the scrambling manner used for the DCI that is usedfor carrying the SFI and the number of slots suitable for the slotformat.

In other words, the scrambling manner used for the DCI that is used forcarrying the SFI may have a second corresponding relationship with theslot format. The second corresponding relationship may be in the form ofa table or in the form of a tree, and this is not limited in thisembodiment of this application. After receiving the DCI used forcarrying the SFI, the terminal device can determine a slot formatcorresponding to the scrambling manner according to the scramblingmanner used for the DCI and with reference to the second correspondingrelationship. Further, the terminal device can blindly detect the PDCCHaccording to the slot format.

Optionally, the second corresponding relationship may be preconfiguredfor the terminal device by the network device. For example, the networkdevice may preconfigure the second corresponding relationship for theterminal device through semi-static signaling, or the secondcorresponding relationship may alternatively be preset in the terminaldevice. This is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

Optionally, the scrambling manner used for the DCI includes a maskand/or an RNTI used for scrambling the DCI. That is, the terminal devicecan determine the corresponding slot format according to the mask and/orthe RNTI corresponding to the DCI.

A specific process is as follows:

Information bits of the DCI can be represented as: a₀, a₁, a₂, a₃, . . .a_(A-1), and CRC check bits are P₀, P₁, P₂, P₃, . . . P_(L-1). Arepresents an information bit length, and L represents a check bitlength. A bit sequence on which CRC is performed is represented as b₀,b₁, b₂, b₃, . . . P_(B-1), where B=A+L. For k=0, 1, 2, . . . , A−1,b_(k)=a_(k); and for k=A. A+1, A+2, . . . . A+L−1, b_(k)=P_(k-A).

Scrambling and masking are processed on the sequence on which CRC isperformed. A scrambling code sequence is determined by a correspondingRNTI, that is, x_(rnti,0), x_(rnti,1), . . . , x_(rnti,15). The maskherein is a scrambling code sequence x_(mask) provided in Table 2. Asequence obtained after the scrambling and masking is c₀, c₁, c₂, c₃, .. . , c_(B-1). For k=0, 1, 2, . . . , A−1, c_(k)=b_(k) and for k=A, A+1,A+2, . . . . A+15, c_(k)=(b_(k)+x_(rnti,k-A)+x_(mask,k-A))mod 2. Theterminal device performs decoding according to the received DCI, and canlearn the mask and the RNTI used for scrambling the DCI. Then, withreference to the second corresponding relationship, the number of slotssuitable for the slot format can be determined.

By way of example and not limitation, the second correspondingrelationship may be shown as Table 2:

TABLE 2 Number of slots suitable for Mask 

X_(mask,0), X_(mask,1), . . . , X_(mask,15) 

the slot format <0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0> 1 <0,1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1> 2 <1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0,1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0> 3 <1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1,1> 4

For example, if the mask used for the DCI used for carrying the SFI is<1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0>, the terminal device candetermine that the number of slots suitable for the slot format andindicated by the SFI is 3.

Therefore, the number of slots suitable for the slot format can bedetermined according to Embodiment 3 and Embodiment 4. Further, S430 mayspecifically include:

detecting, by the terminal device, the PDCCH according to the slotformat in K slots starting from a current slot or starting from an Lthslot after the current slot, where K is the number of slots suitable forthe slot format, L is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and K is aninteger greater than or equal to 1.

That is, the terminal device can detect the PDCCH according to the slotformat in the following K slots starting from the current slot, orstarting from an Lth slot after the current slot. That is, it is notnecessary to repeatedly send the SFI in the K slots, so that signalingoverheads can be reduced, and the complexity of blindly detecting thePDCCH by the terminal device can also be reduced.

Therefore, the terminal device can determine, according to Embodiment 1and Embodiment 4, or Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 4, or a slot formatidentification manner in the prior art and Embodiment 4, a slot formatin one slot and a number of slots suitable for the slot format. In thisway, the SFI includes at least one indication domains. One indicationdomain is used to indicate a slot format in one slot. The slot formatmay be indicated in the manner described in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment2, or may be indicated in the existing identification manner. Theindication domain is suitable for the slot-based data transmissionmanner and the non-slot-based data transmission manner. The number ofslots suitable for the slot format can be indicated in theidentification manner described in Embodiment 4, that is, the number ofslots suitable for the slot format can be indirectly indicated in thescrambling manner used for the DCI that is used for carrying the SFI.

With reference to Embodiment 5, the following introduces an SFIidentification manner by using an example in which one time unit is atransmission period used to transmit the DCI used for carrying the SFI.In this embodiment, the transmission period includes a plurality ofslots. The SFI is used to indicate a slot format corresponding to eachslot in one transmission period, and for the slot format of each slot,refer to the identification manners in the foregoing embodiments. Forbrevity, a specific implementation is not repeatedly described.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the SFI includes number information ofdownlink symbols and/or number information of uplink symbols included inone slot. In this case, S420 may include:

determining, by the terminal device, M symbols starting from the firstsymbol in each slot as a time domain location used for downlinktransmission in the slot, where M is the number of downlink symbols inthe slot, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 0; and/or

determining, by the terminal device, last N symbols in each slot as atime domain location used for uplink transmission in the slot, where Mis the number of uplink symbols in the slot, and N is an integer greaterthan or equal to 0.

In other words, the terminal device can determine the slot format of theeach slot according to number information of downlink symbols and/ornumber information of uplink symbols included in each slot in onetransmission period. Further, in each transmission period, the terminaldevice can detect the PDCCH according to the slot format of each slot.

For example, if one transmission period includes four slots, the firstslot in the transmission period includes eight downlink symbols, thesecond slot includes nine downlink symbols, the third slot includes tendownlink symbols, and the fourth slot includes nine downlink symbols,then in each transmission period, the terminal device detects the PDCCHin the first eight symbols of the first slot, detects the PDCCH in thefirst nine symbols of the second slot, detects the PDCCH in the firstten symbols of the third slots, and detects the PDCCH in the first ninesymbols of the fourth slot, until a time length suitable for the slotformat is invalid. Optionally, in another embodiment, the SFI includes aslot format index of each slot in one transmission period, the slotformat index has a third corresponding relationship with the slotformat, and the determining, by the terminal device according to theSFI, at least one of a slot format in one time unit and a time lengthsuitable for the slot format includes:

determining, by the terminal device, the slot format in each slotaccording to the slot format index of the slot, and the thirdcorresponding relationship.

In other words, with reference to the third corresponding relationship,the terminal device can determine the slot format of each slot in oneperiod according to the slot format index of the slot in onetransmission period. Further, in each transmission period, the terminaldevice can detect the PDCCH according to the slot format of the slot.

Optionally, the third corresponding relationship may be the same as ormay be different from the foregoing first corresponding relationship.Assuming that the third corresponding relationship can also be thecorresponding relationship as shown in Table 1, if one transmissionperiod includes four slots, and slot format indexes of the four slotsare respectively 4, 2, 3, and 2, the terminal device can determine theslot format corresponding to each slot according to the slot formatindex of the slot described above: and can further detect the PDCCHaccording to the slot format of the slot. Therefore, the complexity ofblindly detecting the PDCCH can be reduced.

In a specific embodiment, the SFI indicates the slot formatcorresponding to each slot in one transmission period by means of abitmap.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method 400 further includes:

receiving, by the terminal device, configuration information sent by thenetwork device, where the configuration information is used to configurethe transmission period of the DCI used for carrying the SFI.

For example, the network device can configure the transmission periodfor the terminal device through semi-static signaling (for example, RRCsignaling). In this way, when the transmission period remains unchanged,the terminal device can detect the PDCCH in each transmission periodaccording to the slot format of each slot, so that the complexity ofblindly detecting the PDCCH can be reduced.

With reference to FIG. 4, the foregoing describes the data transmissionmethod according to this embodiment of this application from theperspective of a terminal device. With reference to FIG. 5, thefollowing will describe a data transmission method in detail accordingto another embodiment of this application from the perspective of anetwork device. It should be understood that, the description of thenetwork device side corresponds to the description of the terminaldevice side, and for a similar description, refer to the foregoingdescription. To avoid repetition, details are not described hereinagain.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of the data transmission methodaccording to the another embodiment of this application. As shown inFIG. 5, the method 500 can include:

S510. A network device generates an SFI, where the SFI is used toindicate at least one of a slot format in one time unit and a timelength suitable for the slot format;

S520. The network device sends the SFI to the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the time unit is one slot.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI is used to indicate numberinformation of downlink symbols and/or number information of uplinksymbols included in one slot.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI is used to indicate a slotformat index, and the slot format index has a first correspondingrelationship with the slot format.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI includes number information ofslots suitable for the slot format.

Optionally, in some embodiments, a scrambling manner used for a DCI thatis used for carrying the SFI has a second corresponding relationshipwith the number of slots suitable for the slot format.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the scrambling manner used for the DCIincludes a mask and/or an RNTI used for scrambling the DCI.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the time unit is a transmission periodused for transmitting the DCI carrying the SFI, and the transmissionperiod includes a plurality of slots.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI is used to indicate a slotformat corresponding to each slot in one transmission period.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI includes number information ofdownlink symbols and/or number information of uplink symbols included inone slot.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI includes a slot format index ofeach slot in one transmission period, and the slot format index has athird corresponding relationship with the slot format.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI indicates the slot formatcorresponding to each slot in one transmission period by means of abitmap.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method 500 further includes:

sending, by the network device, configuration information to theterminal device where the configuration information is used toconfigure, for the terminal device, the transmission period of the DCIused for carrying the SFI.

With reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the foregoing describes in detailthe method embodiments of this application. With reference to FIG. 6 toFIG. 9, the following will describes in detail device embodiments ofthis application. It should be understood that, the device embodimentscorrespond to the method embodiments, and for a similar description,refer to the method embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device 600 accordingto an embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 6, the terminaldevice 600 includes:

a communications module 610, configured to receive an SFI sent by anetwork device: and

a determining module 620, configured to determine, according to the SFI,at least one of a slot format in one time unit and a time lengthsuitable for the slot format, where

the communications module 610 is further configured to detect a PDCCHaccording to the slot format corresponding to the one of the one or moreslot format indices indicated by the SFI.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the time unit is one slot.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI is used to indicate numberinformation of downlink symbols and/or number information of uplinksymbols included in one slot, and the determining module 620 isspecifically configured to:

determine M symbols starting from the first symbol in one slot as a timedomain location used for downlink transmission, where M is the number ofdownlink symbols, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 0; and/or

determine last N symbols in one slot as a time domain location used foruplink transmission, where N is the number of uplink symbols, and N isan integer greater than or equal to 0.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communications module 610 isspecifically configured to:

detect the PDCCH in the M symbols starting from the first symbol.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI is used to indicate the slotformat index, and the determining module 620 is specifically configuredto:

determine, a slot format in one slot according to the slot format indexand a first corresponding relationship, where the first correspondingrelationship is a corresponding relationship between the slot formatindex and the slot format.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI includes number information ofslots suitable for the slot format.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the determining module 620 isspecifically configured to:

determine the number of slots suitable for the slot format according toa scrambling manner used for a DCI that is used for carrying the SFI,and a second corresponding relationship, where the second correspondingrelationship is a corresponding relationship between the scramblingmanner used for the DCI that is used for carrying the SFI and the numberof slots suitable for the slot format.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the scrambling manner used for the DCIincludes a mask and/or an RNTI used for scrambling the DCI.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communications module 610 isspecifically configured to:

detect the PDCCH according to the slot format in K slots starting from acurrent slot or starting from an Lth slot after the current slot, whereK is the number of slots suitable for the slot format, L is an integergreater than or equal to 1, and K is an integer greater than or equal to1.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the time unit is a transmission periodused for transmitting the DCI carrying the SFI, and the transmissionperiod includes a plurality of slots.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI is used to indicate a slotformat corresponding to each slot in one transmission period.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI includes number information ofdownlink symbols and/or number information of uplink symbols included inone slot, and the determining module 620 is specifically configured to:

determine M symbols starting from the first symbol in each slot as atime domain location used for downlink transmission in the slot, where Mis the number of downlink symbols in the slot, and M is an integergreater than or equal to 0; and/or

determine last N symbols in each slot as a time domain location used foruplink transmission in the slot, where M is the number of uplink symbolsin the slot, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI includes a slot format index ofeach slot in one transmission period, and the slot format index has athird corresponding relationship with the slot format, and thedetermining module 620 is specifically configured to:

determine the slot format in each slot according to the slot formatindex of the slot, and the third corresponding relationship.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI indicates the slot formatcorresponding to each slot in one transmission period by means of abitmap.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communications module 610 isspecifically configured to:

detect the PDCCH in each transmission period according to the slotformat corresponding to each slot in the transmission period.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communications module 610 isfurther configured to:

receive configuration information sent by the network device, where theconfiguration information is used to configure the transmission periodof the DCI used for carrying the SFI.

It should be understood that, the terminal device 600 in this embodimentof this application may correspond to the terminal device in the methodembodiments of this application, and the foregoing and other operationsand/or functions of the units in the terminal device 600 are for thepurpose of respectively implementing corresponding procedures of theterminal device in the method 400 shown in FIG. 4. For brevity, detailsare not described herein again.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a network device 700 according toan embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 7, the networkdevice 700 includes:

a generation module 710, configured to generate an SFI, where the SFI isused to indicate at least one of a slot format in one time unit and atime length suitable for the slot format; and

a communications module 720, configured to send the SFI to the terminaldevice.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the time unit is one slot.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI is used to indicate numberinformation of downlink symbols and/or number information of uplinksymbols included in one slot.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI is used to indicate a slotformat index, and the slot format index has a first correspondingrelationship with the slot format.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI includes number information ofslots suitable for the slot format.

Optionally, in some embodiments, a scrambling manner used for a DCI thatis used for carrying the SFI has a second corresponding relationshipwith the number of slots suitable for the slot format.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the scrambling manner used for the DCIincludes a mask and/or an RNTI used for scrambling the DCI.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the time unit is a transmission periodused for transmitting the DCI carrying the SFI, and the transmissionperiod includes a plurality of slots.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI is used to indicate a slotformat corresponding to each slot in one transmission period.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI includes number information ofdownlink symbols and/or number information of uplink symbols included inone slot.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI includes a slot format index ofeach slot in one transmission period, and the slot format index has athird corresponding relationship with the slot format.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the SFI indicates the slot formatcorresponding to each slot in one transmission period by means of abitmap.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communications module 720 isfurther configured to:

send configuration information to the terminal device, where theconfiguration information is used to configure, for the terminal device,the transmission period of the DCI for carrying the SFI.

It should be understood that, the network device 700 in this embodimentof this application may correspond to the network device in the methodembodiments of this application, and the foregoing and other operationsand/or functions of the units in the network device 700 are for thepurpose of respectively implementing corresponding procedures of thenetwork device in the method 500 shown in FIG. 5. For brevity, detailsare not described herein again.

As shown in FIG. 8, an embodiment of the present invention furtherprovides a terminal device 800. The terminal device 800 may be theterminal device 600 in FIG. 6, and can be configured to perform thecorresponding content of the terminal device in the method 400 in FIG.4. The terminal device 800 includes: an input interface 810, an outputinterface 820, a processor 830, and a memory 840, and the inputinterface 810, the output interface 820, the processor 830, and thememory 840 may be connected by using a bus system. The memory 840 isconfigured to store, for example, a program, an instruction, or code.The processor 830 is configured to execute the program, the instruction,or the code in the memory 840, to control the input interface 810 toreceive a signal and control the output interface 820 to send a signal,to complete the operations in the foregoing method embodiments.

It should be understood that, in this embodiment of this application,the processor 830 may be a central processing unit (CPU), or theprocessor 830 may be another general processor, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield-programmable gate array (FPGA) or another programmable logicdevice, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardwarecomponent, and the like. The general purpose processor may be amicroprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor.

The memory 840 may include a read-only memory and a random accessmemory, and provides the processor 830 with data and an instruction. Apart of the memory 840 may further include a non-volatile random accessmemory. For example, the memory 840 may further store device typeinformation.

In an implementation process, each piece of content of the foregoingmethods may be implemented by a hardware-integrated logic circuit in theprocessor 830 or by an instruction in a software form. The content ofthe method disclosed with reference to the embodiments of thisapplication may be directly performed by a hardware processor, or may beperformed by using a combination of hardware in the processor and asoftware module. The software module may be located in a mature storagemedium in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, aread-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, or electricallyerasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium islocated in the memory 840, and the processor 830 reads information inthe memory 840 and completes the content in the foregoing methods incombination with hardware of the processor. To avoid repetition, detailsare not described herein again.

In a specific implementation, the communications module 610 in theterminal device 600 shown in FIG. 6 may be implemented by the inputinterface 810 and the output interface 820 in FIG. 8, and thedetermining module 620 in the terminal device 600 shown in FIG. 6 may beimplemented by the processor 830 in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 9, an embodiment of the present invention furtherprovides a network device 900. The network device 900 may be the networkdevice 700 in FIG. 7, and can be configured to perform the correspondingcontent of the network device in the method 500 in FIG. 5. The networkdevice 900 includes: an input interface 910, an output interface 920, aprocessor 930, and a memory 940, and the input interface 910, the outputinterface 920, the processor 930, and the memory 940 may be connected byusing a bus system. The memory 940 is configured to store, for example,a program, an instruction, or code. The processor 930 is configured toexecute the program, the instruction, or the code in the memory 940, tocontrol the input interface 910 to receive a signal and control theoutput interface 920 to send a signal, to complete the operations in theforegoing method embodiments.

It should be understood that, in this embodiment of this application,the processor 930 may be a central processing unit (CPU): or theprocessor 930 may be another general processor, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield-programmable gate array (FPGA) or another programmable logicdevice, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardwarecomponent, and the like. The general purpose processor may be amicroprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor.

The memory 940 may include a read-only memory and a random accessmemory, and provides the processor 930 with data and an instruction. Apart of the memory 940 may further include a non-volatile random accessmemory. For example, the memory 940 may further store device typeinformation.

In an implementation process, each piece of content of the foregoingmethods may be implemented by a hardware-integrated logic circuit in theprocessor 930 or by an instruction in a software form. The content ofthe method disclosed with reference to the embodiments of thisapplication may be directly performed by a hardware processor, or may beperformed by using a combination of hardware in the processor and asoftware module. The software module may be located in a mature storagemedium in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, aread-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, or electricallyerasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium islocated in the memory 940, and the processor 930 reads information inthe memory 940 and completes the content in the foregoing methods incombination with hardware of the processor. To avoid repetition, detailsare not described herein again.

In a specific implementation, the communications module 720 in thenetwork device 700 shown in FIG. 7 may be implemented by the inputinterface 910 and the output interface 920 in FIG. 9, and the generationmodule 710 in the network device 700 shown in FIG. 7 may be implementedby the processor 930 in FIG. 9.

It should be understood that the term “and/or” in this specificationdescribes only an association relationship for describing associatedobjects and represents that three relationships may exist. For example,A and/or B may represent the following three cases: Only A exists, bothA and B exist, and only B exists. In addition, the character “I” in thisspecification generally indicates an “or” relationship between theassociated objects.

It should be understood that sequence numbers of the foregoing processesdo not mean execution sequences in various embodiments of theembodiments of this application. The execution sequences of theprocesses should be determined based on functions and internal logic ofthe processes, and should not be construed as any limitation on theimplementation processes of the embodiments of this application.

A person of ordinary skill in the art may be aware that, in combinationwith the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in thisspecification, units and algorithm steps may be implemented byelectronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronichardware. Whether the functions are performed by hardware or softwaredepends on particular applications and design constraint conditions ofthe technical solutions. A person skilled in the art may use differentmethods to implement the described functions for each particularapplication, but it should not be considered that the implementationgoes beyond the scope of this application.

It may be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art that, forthe purpose of convenient and brief description, for a detailed workingprocess of the foregoing system, apparatus, and unit, refer to acorresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and detailsare not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should beunderstood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may beimplemented in other manners. For example, the described apparatusembodiments are merely used as an example. For example, the unitdivision is merely logical function division and may be other divisionin actual implementation. For example, a plurality of units orcomponents may be combined or integrated into another system, or somefeatures may be ignored or not performed. In addition, the displayed ordiscussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communicationconnections may be implemented by using some interfaces. The indirectcouplings or communication connections between the apparatuses or unitsmay be implemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physicallyseparate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units,may be located in one position, or may be distributed on a plurality ofnetwork units. Some or all of the units may be selected based on actualrequirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions of theembodiments.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of this application maybe integrated into one processing unit, or each of the units may existalone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.

When the functions are implemented in the form of a software functionalunit and sold or used as an independent product, the functions may bestored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such anunderstanding, the technical solutions of this application essentially,or the part contributing to the prior art, or some of the technicalsolutions may be implemented in a form of a software product. Thecomputer software product is stored in a storage medium, and includesseveral instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be apersonal computer, a server, a network device, or the like) to performall or some of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments ofthis application. The foregoing storage medium includes various mediathat can store program code, for example: a USB flash drive, a removablehard disk, a read-only memory (ROM, Read-Only Memory), a random accessmemory (RAM, Random Access Memory), a magnetic disk, or a compact disc.

The foregoing descriptions are merely specific implementations of thisapplication, but are not intended to limit the protection scope of thisapplication. Any variation or replacement readily figured out by aperson skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in thisapplication shall fall within the protection scope of this application.Therefore, the protection scope of this application shall be subject tothe protection scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for processing data in a wirelesscommunication network, comprising: obtaining, by a terminal device, aslot format indicator (SFI), the SFI being used to indicate one or moreslot format indices; obtaining, by the terminal device, one or more slotformat indices according to the SFI; determining, by the terminaldevice, a slot format in a time unit according to one of the one or moreslot format indices and a first correspondence relationship, wherein thefirst correspondence relationship is a relationship between a slotformat index and a slot format; and receiving, by the terminal device, aphysical downlink control channel (PDCCH) according to the slot formatcorresponding to the one of the one or more slot format indicesindicated by the SFI, wherein the SFI is carried in downlink controlinformation (DCI) and the DCI is scrambled by using a radio networktemporary identifier (RNTI).
 2. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe time unit is a slot.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein thedetermining, by the terminal device, a slot format in a time unitaccording to one of the one or more slot format indices and a firstcorrespondence relationship, comprises: determining, by the terminaldevice, M symbols starting from a beginning in a slot as a time domainlocation used for downlink transmission, wherein M is the number ofdownlink symbols, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 0; and/ordetermining, by the terminal device, last N symbols from an end in aslot as a time domain location used for uplink transmission, wherein Nis the number of uplink symbols, and N is an integer greater than orequal to
 0. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time unit isa transmission period used for transmitting the DCI carrying the SFI,and the transmission period comprises a plurality of slots.
 5. Themethod according to claim 4, wherein the one or more slot format indicescorrespond to a slot format of each slot in a transmission period. 6.The method according to claim 5, wherein the determining, by theterminal device, a slot format in a time unit according to one of theone or more slot format indices and a first correspondence relationship,comprises: determining, by the terminal device, M symbols starting froma first symbol in each slot in the transmission period as a time domainlocation used for downlink transmission in the slot, wherein M is thenumber of downlink symbols in the slot, and M is an integer greater thanor equal to 0; and/or determining, by the terminal device, last Nsymbols in each slot as a time domain location used for uplinktransmission in the slot in the transmission period, wherein M is thenumber of uplink symbols in the slot, and N is an integer greater thanor equal to 0; wherein M can be different for different slots in thetransmission period, and N can be different for different slots in thetransmission period.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein thereceiving, by the terminal device, a PDCCH according to the slot formatcorresponding to the one of the one or more slot format indicesindicated by the SFI comprises: receiving, by the terminal device, thePDCCH in the M symbols starting from a first symbol in the time unit. 8.The method according to claim 7, further comprising: receiving, by theterminal device, configuration information sent by a network device,wherein the configuration information is used to configure thetransmission period of DCI used for carrying the SFI.
 9. A terminaldevice in a communication device, comprising: a processor and memorystoring program instructions; wherein the program instructions, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the terminal device to: obtain a slotformat indicator (SFI), the SFI being used to indicate one or more slotformat indices; obtain one or more slot format indices according to theSFI; determine a slot format in a time unit according to one of the oneor more slot format indices and a first correspondence relationship,wherein the first correspondence relationship is a relationship betweena slot format index and a slot format; and receive a physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH) according to the slot format corresponding tothe one of the one or more slot format indices indicated by the SFI,wherein the SFI is carried in downlink control information (DCI) and theDCI is scrambled by using a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI).10. The terminal device according to claim 9, wherein the time unit is aslot.
 11. The terminal device according to claim 10, wherein theinstruction to determine a slot format in a time unit according to oneof the one or more slot format indices and a first correspondencerelationship, comprises: determine M symbols starting from a beginningin a slot as a time domain location used for downlink transmission,wherein M is the number of downlink symbols, and M is an integer greaterthan or equal to 0; and/or determine last N symbols from an end in aslot as a time domain location used for uplink transmission, wherein Nis the number of uplink symbols, and N is an integer greater than orequal to
 0. 12. The terminal device according to claim 9, wherein thetime unit is a transmission period used for transmitting the DCIcarrying the SFI, and the transmission period comprises a plurality ofslots.
 13. The terminal device according to claim 12, wherein the one ormore slot format indices correspond to a slot format of each slot in atransmission period.
 14. The terminal device according to claim 13,wherein the instruction to determine a slot format in a time unitaccording to one of the one or more slot format indices and a firstcorrespondence relationship, comprises: determine M symbols startingfrom a first symbol in each slot in the transmission period as a timedomain location used for downlink transmission in the slot, wherein M isthe number of downlink symbols in the slot, and M is an integer greaterthan or equal to 0; and/or determine last N symbols in each slot as atime domain location used for uplink transmission in the slot in thetransmission period, wherein M is the number of uplink symbols in theslot, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 0; wherein M can bedifferent for different slots in the transmission period, and N can bedifferent for different slots in the transmission period.
 15. Theterminal device according to claim 9, wherein the instruction to receivea PDCCH according to the slot format corresponding to the one of the oneor more slot format indices indicated by the SFI comprises: receive thePDCCH in the M symbols starting from a first symbol in the time unit.16. The terminal device according to claim 15, wherein the programinstruction further comprise: receive configuration information sent bya network device, wherein the configuration information is used toconfigure the transmission period of DCI used for carrying the SFI.